Barbados hit back on Day 1

The first day of cricket at the island's newest first-class venue was one in which both Barbados and South Africa 'A'will claim some degree of satisfaction.

Having only arrived in the Caribbean four days earlier, the visitors adapted well to the conditions and were making fine progress up until the evening session at the lovely setting of the Windward Club ground in Lucas Street. St. Philip.

A new-look Barbados team, featuring seven debutants, might have been slightly worried when South Africa 'A'reached 213 for four inside the final hour. But, as so often happens in cricket, one unlikely dismissal changed the course of the match.

Dale Benkenstein, no stranger to Barbados as he once served a stint with Wanderers, had just completed a solid half-century and was well set when he was prised out by an outstanding piece of fielding by Shirley Clarke.

The South Africa 'A'captain, whose polished 57 was made with hardly any bother from 141 balls in three hours' batting, was run out at the bowler's end by a direct throw from Clarke at mid-on.

The dismissal ended a fifth-wicket partnership of 67 between Benkenstein and Ashwell Prince, who ended the day unbeaten on 57, and launched a Barbados fightback.

On the whole, the hosts were able to restrict the scoring after tea when 89 runs were scored in comparison to the 125 that came in the second session.

The revival was instigated by fast bowler Hattian Graham, whose performance up to then was somewhat indifferent.

He claimed the second wicket of the day with a fine delivery that took the edge of left-handed teenager Graeme Smith's bat for a catch to the 'keeper.

During the pre-tea session, Graham was off line on occasions, but he did well to hit back with a double strike in the dying stages.

He won a leg before verdict against the tall right-hander Justin Kemp, but there was no doubt about the dismissal of Robin Peterson, who was embarrassed when he offered no stroke and had his stumps disturbed.

It meant that three wickets had gone by for the addition of 16 runs and the close of play total of 240 for seven was one which Barbados would feel reasonably happy with after they opted to field first on winning the toss in overcast conditions.

It was a relief to the fair-size crowd that as many as 77 overs were delivered during the day.

The dark clouds that hovered to the east of the ground and a light drizzle were enough to delay the start by an hour-and-a-quarter.

The sun, however, made its presence felt for most of the day and the batting of the South Africans was impressive against a bowling attack that appeared to lack depth.

There were many who felt that Ryan Hinds, a specialist batsman and decent part-time left-arm spinner, should not have been given the role of fourth-choice bowler.

Both he and Shirley Clarke, who trundles off-breaks, were required to bowl as many as 30 overs between them. Mind you, they did so fairly tidily, and Hinds struck a blow with his third ball by removing the dengerous opener Doug Watson.

The 26-year-old Watson, who averaged nearly 50 in the 1999-2000 South African first-class season, cracked seven boundaries in making 30 before Hinds deceived him in flight and bowled him an hour after lunch.

By then, Justin Ontong had already reeled a few exciting front-foot strokes and continued to play with authority until he gifted his hand 15 minutes before tea.

The 20-year-old arrived at his half-century at a run-a-ball before he was bowled by left-arm fast bowler Ian Bradshaw.

Bradshaw was the best of the Barbados bowlers on the day and deserved more than two wickets.